1. (1) Overview. An individual who completes a State-approved program as prescribed in the Educator Preparation Alabama Administrative CodeChapter of the may be eligible for a Professional Educator Certificate or Professional Leadership Certificate.

2. (2) General Information.

   1. (a) An individual who completes a State-approved program must be recommended for certification by the certification officer of the institution where the program was completed.
   2. (b) The application must be received in the Educator Certification Section within 60 calendar months of the date of program completion specified on the current recommendation form.
   3. (c) An individual whose application is not received in the Educator Certification Section within the 60 calendar months must meet requirements of the most recent State-approved program at the same institution or at another institution, or meet all requirements of another State-approved approach.
   4. (d) The applicant must meet all State requirements for certification, including the Alabama Special Requirements in Rule 290-3-2-.02(4), in effect at the time the application is received in the Educator Certification Section.

3. (3) Application.

   1. (a) The applicant is required to submit to the certification officer at the institution where the State-approved program was completed the current application for this approach.

   2. (b) The certification officer at the institution where the State-approved program was completed is required to submit to the Educator Certification Section:

      1. 1. A recommendation on the current application for this approach and documentation of the applicant having met all certification requirements and all requirements of the State-approved program as prescribed in the Educator Preparation Alabama Administrative CodeChapter of the .
      2. 2. The applicant’s current application for this approach.

4. (4) Class B State-approved Programs for Teaching Fields lead to an initial Professional Educator Certificate at the bachelor’s degree level. Additional information regarding Class B State-approved programs may be found in the Educator Alabama Administrative Code.Preparation Chapter of the Available program teaching fields include:

   1. (a) Early childhood education, elementary education, early childhood special education, and collaborative special education grades K-6 or 6-12.
   2. (b) Middle-1evel or secondary single teaching fields.
   3. (c) Comprehensive middle level or secondary teaching fields (English language arts, general science, or general social studies) or career and technical education teaching fields.
   4. (d) Preschool through grade 12 programs (visual arts, dance, choral or instrumental music, languages other than English, physical education, and theatre).

5. (5) Alternative Class A State-approved Programs for Teaching Fields lead to an initial Professional Educator Certificate at the master’s degree level. Additional information regarding Alternative Class A State-approved programs may be Alabama found in the Educator Preparation Chapter of the Administrative Code. Available program teaching fields include:

   1. (a) Early childhood education, elementary education, early childhood special education, and collaborative special education grades K-6 or 6-12.
   2. (b) Middle-1evel or secondary single teaching fields.
   3. (c) Comprehensive middle level or secondary teaching fields (English language arts, general science, or general social studies) or career and technical education teaching fields.
   4. (d) Preschool through grade 12 programs (visual arts, dance, choral or instrumental music, languages other than English, physical education, theatre, and certain areas of special education).

6. (6) Class A State-approved Programs for Teaching Fields lead to a Class A Professional Educator Certificate at the master’s degree level. Additional information regarding Class A State-approved programs for teaching fields may be Alabama found in the Educator Preparation Chapter of the Administrative Code. Available program teaching fields include:

   1. (a) Advanced certification in the same teaching fields for which Class B certification is available.
   2. (b) Initial certification in English for speakers of other languages, reading specialist, and certain areas of special education.
7. (7) Class A State-approved Programs for Areas of Instructional Support lead to a Class A Professional Educator Certificate or Professional Leadership Certificate at the master’s degree level. Additional information regarding Class A State-approved programs in areas of instructional support may be Alabama found in the Educator Preparation Chapter of the Administrative Code. Available program areas of instructional support include instructional leadership (formerly educational administration), library-media, school counseling, school psychometry, speech-1anguage pathology, and sport management.
8. (8) Class AA State-approved Programs for Teaching Fields lead to a Class AA Professional Educator Certificate at the sixth-year level. Some institutions require program completers to earn an education specialist degree. Additional information regarding Class AA State-approved programs for teaching fields may be found in the Educator Preparation Chapter Alabama Administrative Code.of the Available program teaching fields include initial certification in special education and teacher leader, and advanced certification in the same teaching fields for which Class B and Class A certification is available.

9. (9) Class AA State-approved Programs for Areas of Instructional Support lead to a Class AA Professional Educator Certificate or Professional Leadership Certificate on the sixth-year level. Some institutions require program completers to earn the education specialist degree. Additional information regarding Class AA State-approved programs in areas of instructional support may be found in the Educator Preparation Alabama Administrative Code. Chapter of the Available program areas of instructional support include:

   1. (a) Initial certification in school psychology.
   2. (b) Advanced certification in instructional leadership, library-media, school counseling, speech-1anguage pathology, and sport management.
10. (10) Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). An applicant through the State-approved program approach must meet the requirements of the AECAP in effect on the date the application is received in the Educator Certification Section. Additional information is in Rule 290-3-2-.02(9).

Author: Dr. Thomas R. Bice

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, Ala. Const. Amend. 284, §§16-3-11, 16-23-1, 16-23-2.

Editor’s Note: Rule was previously .04 and renumber to .21 as per certification file August 4, 2008. Rule was previously .21 and renumber to .33 as per certification file December 10, 2010.

History: New Rule: Filed January 17, 1997; operative February 21, 1997; effective July 1, 1997. Amended: Filed June 14, 1999; effective July 19, 1999. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 8, 2002; effective September 12, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed December 12, 2002; effective January 16, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 11, 2003; effective October 16, 2003. Amended: Filed July 13, 2004; effective August 17, 2004. Amended: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 4, 2008; effective September 8, 2008. Repealed and New Rule: Filed December 10, 2010; effective January 14, 2011. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 17, 2014; effective February 21, 2014. Repealed and New Rule: Filed March 10, 2016; effective April 24, 2016.